THE YOUTH REHABILITATION SERVICE OF THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE REPORTS THAT FROM JULY 1, 1977 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1978 THERE WAS A MARKED DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE PETITIONS FILED IN THE STATE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FAVORABLE TRENDS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVES AS RESTITUTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS WITH CITIZEN ADVISORY GROUPS; THE SPECIAL TREATMENT OF VIOLENT AND REPEAT OFFENDERS BY WAIVER TO ADULT COURT IN SOME CASES AND IN OTHER CASES BY PLACEMENT CONTRACTED WITH THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY; THE ADOPTION OF JUVENILE DETENTION STANDARDS; AND THE PROVISION OF WORKSHOPS AND THE GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN FOR GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF CITIZENS AND AGENCIES. STATISTICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM COVERED THE FOLLOWING AREAS: (1) NUMBER OF PETITIONS FILED STATEWIDE SINCE 1973; (2) OFFENSES BY KIND AND THE SEX OF THOSE FOR WHOM EXTENDED SERVICES WERE PROVIDED; (3) MOST FREQUENT OFFENSES OF MALES AND FEMALES FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS; (4) TYPE OF SUPERVISION PROVIDED, BROKEN DOWN BY OFFENSES AND SEX (AN INCREASE IN INFORMAL SUPERVISION AS OPPOSED TO FORMAL PROBATION); (5) AGES OF YOUTH REFERRED OR COMMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE; (6) PERCENTAGE OF OFFENDERS BY AGE AND SEX SERVED BY ALL REPORTING AGENCIES; (7) ETHNIC BACKGROUND OF REFERRED OR COMMITTED YOUTHS (ONLY 7.6 PERCENT NONCAUCASIAN); (8) PERCENT OF YOUTH IN SCHOOL (82.6 PERCENT NON-CAUCASIAN); (9) OFFENSES OF THOSE SERVED BY REPORTING AGENCIES (DECREASE IN THE STATUS OFFENSE CATEGORY); AND (10) COMMITMENTS TO THE IDAHO YOUTH SERVICES CENTER BY SEX, AGE, AND TYPE OF OFFENSE. (INTERESTINGLY, AN INCREASE IN NUMBER REFLECTS AN INCREASE IN THE LENGTH OF PLACEMENT). THE POPULATION OF THE IDAHO YOUTH SERVICES CENTER IS GIVEN BACK TO 1967, ALONG WITH THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BEING SERVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE BY REGIONS. (FCW)